This year’s Leaving Cert Changes are very important to take note of. To begin, Leaving Certificate and the Leaving Certificate Applied exams will begin on Wednesday, June 8. In 2022, the Leaving Cert Established (LCE), the Leaving Cert Applied (LCA) and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) will see major changes to their assessment arrangements.
The Department of Education and the State Examinations Commission have stated that all the Leaving Cert changes will reflect the disruption to teaching and learning experienced by the senior class of 2022. The adjustments will extend beyond the written papers and extend into the oral, the practical and coursework as well.
These Leaving Cert changes will include:
- No Hybrid Exams
- Alternative Sets of Exams
- Changes to Written Exam Papers including:
- Leaving Cert Paper Adjustments
- LCVP Link Module Adjustments
1. No Hybrid Exams
One of the major Leaving Cert changes of 2022 is the discontinuation of the “Hybrid” exam structure that was implemented in 2021 and 2020.
Norma Foley, Minister of Education, has stated that 2022 Leaving Cert candidates are not in a position to choose between accredited grades and sitting for the exams. Instead, for LC and LCA 2022, students will get a shorter syllabus to study and more choices in their exam papers.
It is also stated that the grading system for the 2022 Leaving Cert will be similar to last year, meaning that the number of H1 and H2 grades awarded in 2022 will be similar to 2021.
Please note also that there will be NO changes to the duration of the written examinations for the Leaving Cert, Leaving Cert Applied and Leaving Cert Vocational Programme 2022.
2. Alternative Set of Exams
The Department of Education has developed an opportunity for students to sit an alternative set of exams, which will run shortly after the written Leaving Cert 2022 exams.
There will be strict eligibility criteria applying to these alternative examinations and they will be only limited to students who were directly affected by the pandemic, students who lost family members and students who experienced certain other serious illnesses during the first examination period.
The SEC will issue further details later this summer regarding this alternative exam set up, with all arrangements guided by prevailing public health advice.
3. Adjustments To The Written Papers
In light of the disruption to learning experienced by senior students during the 2021-22 school year, it was agreed that further adjustments should be made to the written examination papers to recognise this additional impact on learning. These further adjustments apply to the written examinations only.
These adjustments aim to maintain the overall structure and layout of the examination paper so that the papers remain familiar to the candidates, but with more choice and a reduction in the number of questions to be answered. For example, in the exam for Leaving Cert Maths, students normally had 10 questions to answer, but this year they will have only six questions to answer.
This means that NO new material has been added to the written LC papers and NO material has been removed. The level of choice and number of questions will be similar to last year’s written exams.
The table below details all the adjusted assessment arrangements for every subject/ module descriptor in the LC, LCA and LCVP for 2022.
LC 2022 Written Paper Adjustments
| Subject Names And Levels | 2022 Adjustments In Written Examinations |
|---|---|
| Accounting (HL & OL) |
The total mark allocation for both HL and OL will be reduced from 400 marks to 300 marks. Section 1: Financial Accounting (120 marks) This section has four questions (numbers 1 – 4). The first question (A or B) carries 120 marks and the remaining three questions carry 60 marks each. Candidates should answer either QUESTION 1 (A or B) only OR answer any TWO of the remaining three questions in this section. Section 2: Financial Accounting (100 marks) This section has three questions (numbers 5 – 7). Each question carries 100 marks. Candidates should answer ONE of these questions. Section 3: Management Accounting (80 marks) This section has two questions (numbers 8 and 9). Each question carries 80 marks. Candidates should answer ONE of these questions |
| Agricultural Science (HL & OL) | The total mark allocation for the examination paper in 2022 is 220 marks, instead of the usual 300 marks. Section A (70 Marks) Answer any seven questions from this section. There is an internal choice in four questions. Each question carries 10 marks. Section B (150 Marks) Answer any three questions from this section. There is an internal choice in two questions. Each question carries 50 marks. |
| Ancient Greek | HL: The total mark allocation for the paper will be 280 marks instead of the usual 400 total marks. Question 1: Answer Section A or Section B (50 marks) Question 2: Translate into English one passage from either Section A or Section B (90 marks) Question 3: Answer either Section A or Section B (80 marks) Question 4: Answer any two questions (60 marks) OL: The total mark allocation for the paper will be 265 marks. Question 1: Translate into English any one of the passages A, B, C, D (105 marks) (All passages in this question carry equal marks.) Question 2: Translate into English and answer any four questions (100 marks) Question 3: Answer any two questions. (Each question carries thirty marks.) (60 marks) |
| Applied Maths (HL & OL) | The total mark allocation for the paper will be 250 marks, instead of the usual 300 marks. Candidates are usually required to answer six questions from ten. In 2022, candidates will be required to answer five questions from ten. Each question carries 50 marks. |
| Arabic (HL & OL) | The total mark allocation for the paper will be 320 marks, instead of the usual 400 marks. Answer either Part 1: Reading Comprehension OR Part 3: Language Usage/Grammar. Answer any four of the nine questions set in Part 2: Literature. Write one of the listed compositions in Part 4: Continuous Writing/Composition. |
| Art- History and Appreciation of Art (HL & OL) | The total mark allocation for each examination paper in 2022 is 100 marks, instead of the usual 150 marks. Candidates will be required to answer a total of two questions. Each question must be selected from a different section. All questions carry 50 marks. Section I: Art in Ireland Section II: European Art 1,000 AD-Present Section III: Appreciation of Art |
| Biology (HL & OL) | The total mark allocation for the examination paper in 2022 is 290 marks, instead of the usual 400 marks. Section A – There are seven short questions (Q1–Q7). Candidates are required to answer any four questions from this section. Each question carries 20 marks. The total for Section A is 80 marks. Section B – There are three mandatory practical questions (Q8-Q10). Candidates are required to answer any one question from this section. Each question will align with a specific unit(s) within the syllabus as follows: Q8 will have practical activities from unit 1, sub-unit 2.1 and 2.5; Q9 will have practical activities from sub-unit 2.2 and Q10 will have practical activities from unit 3. Each question carries 30 marks. The total for Section B is 30 marks. Section C – There are seven long questions (Q11-Q17), including additional internal choice in two questions (Q16 and Q17). Candidates are required to answer any three questions from this section. In relation to both Q16 and Q17, an additional part (d) has been added to each question, giving candidates a choice of four question parts (a), (b), (c), and (d). If a candidate chooses to answer these questions they will be required to answer any two parts in each of these two questions. Each question carries 60 marks. The total for Section C is 180 marks. |
| Business | The total mark allocation for the examination paper will be 300 marks, instead of the usual 400 marks. HL: Section 1: Candidates will be required to answer 4 out of a total of 12 short answer questions. Section 2: Candidates are required to answer the Applied Business Question (ABQ). Section 3: Candidates will be required to answer 3 out of 8 questions. They will be required to choose one question from Part 1, one question from Part 2 and the third question from either Part 1 or Part 2. OL: Section 1: Candidates will be required to answer 5 out of 15 short answer questions, at 15 marks each. The total mark allocation will be 75 marks. Section 2: Candidates will be required to answer 3 out of 9 questions. Candidates will be required to choose one question from Part 1 and one question from Part 2 and the third question from either Part 1 or Part 2. |
| Chemistry (HL & OL) | The total mark allocation for the 2022 examination paper is 300 marks, instead of the usual 400 marks. In 2022, both Higher Level and Ordinary Level Chemistry papers have an additional part in Question 4 and an additional part in Question 11. In each paper, the first 11 parts of Question 4, i.e. parts (a) to (k), will be based on the Core syllabus and part (l) will be based on the Options. Candidates attempting Question 4 will be required to answer 8 of these parts as usual. In each paper, the first three parts of Question 11, i.e. parts (a), (b) and (c), will be based on the Core syllabus and part (d) will be based on the Options. Candidates attempting Question 11 will be required to answer 2 of these parts. Candidates in 2022 are required to answer any 6 questions; all questions carry 50 marks. Candidates in 2022 are NOT required to answer at least two questions from Section A, which has been the usual requirement. |
| Classical Studies (HL & OL) | The total mark allocation for the examination at both HL and OL in 2022 is 200 marks, instead of the usual 300 marks. There are questions on TEN TOPICS. The topics are divided into three groups as follows: Group I: Topics 1 to 4 Group II: Topics 5 to 7 Group III: Topics 8 to 10 Candidates are required to answer FOUR QUESTIONS. Candidates must answer one question from a Topic in each of the three Groups. Candidates can then select their remaining questions from any Topic in any Group. |
| Computer Science (HL & OL) | The total mark allocation for the paper is 110 marks, instead of the usual 210 marks. Section A: Candidates will be required to answer 6 of 12 questions, rather than all 12. All questions carry 30 marks. Section B: Candidates will be required to answer 1 of 3 questions, rather than all 3. All questions carry 30 marks. Section C: Candidates are required to carry out programming tasks on an electronic device. There will be one question in this section in 2022. Part (b) of the question, an open-ended programming task, has been removed from the examination paper. Candidates will now only answer questions on a single Python file. There is no choice in this section of the paper. |
| Construction Studies | HL: The total mark allocation for the paper is 240 marks, instead of the usual 300 marks. Candidates will be required to answer any four of the ten questions. Question 1 will not be compulsory in 2022. OL: The total mark allocation for the paper is 150 marks, instead of the usual 200 marks. Candidates will be required to answer any three questions from nine. Question 1 will not be compulsory in 2022. |
| Design And Communication Graphics (HL & OL) | The total mark allocation for the examination paper in 2022 will be 180 marks instead of 240 marks. Section A: Core – Short Questions- Candidates will be required to answer 3 of the 4 questions presented. All questions in Section A carry 20 marks. Section B: Core – Long Questions Section C: Applied Graphics – Long Questions All questions in Section B and Section C will be marked out of 60 marks each in 2022, instead of the usual 45 marks allocated to each question. Candidates will be required to answer any two of the eight questions presented across the two sections. Therefore, candidates may choose to answer two questions from Section B Core or two questions from Section C Applied Graphics or one question from each section. |
| Economics (HL & OL) | The total mark allocation for both the Higher Level and Ordinary Level Papers will be 300 marks each, instead of the usual 400 marks. Section A: Short Response Questions- Candidates will be required to answer 5 out of 10 short answer questions. The total mark allocation for Section A will be 75 marks (15 marks per question). Section B: Extended Response Questions- Candidates will be required to answer 3 out of 6 extended response questions with a total mark allocation of 225 marks (75 marks per question). |
| Engineering | HL: The total marks for the paper will be 250 marks, instead of 300 marks. There are now nine questions on the examination paper. All questions carry 50 marks. Candidates are now required to answer any five of nine questions. Question 1 will not be a compulsory question. Question 1 Section A and Question 1, Section B have each become standalone questions. OL: The total mark allocation for the paper will be 150 marks, instead of 200 marks. There will be seven questions on the examination paper with all questions carrying 50 marks. Candidates will be required to answer any three questions from these seven questions. Question 1 will no longer be compulsory but if a candidate chooses to answer Question 1, they will be required to answer any 8 parts from 13. This question will not be divided into Section A and Section B as in a normal year. |
| English (HL) | Paper 1 Paper 1 in 2022 will be marked out of a total of 140 marks, instead of 200 marks. Section I – Comprehending (40 marks) Two Questions, A and B, follow each text. Candidates must answer ONE question in Section I: either one Question A OR one Question B on ONE text. Section II – Composing (100 marks) Candidates must write on one of the compositions 1 – 7. Both sections of this paper (COMPREHENDING and COMPOSING) must be attempted. Paper 2 Paper 2 in 2022 will be marked out of a total of 140 marks, instead of 200 marks. Candidates must attempt the required number of questions in any TWO of the following sections: SECTION I – The Single Text (70 marks) Candidates will answer one of the two questions set on the particular single text which they have studied. SECTION II – The Comparative Study (70 marks) A wider choice of modes will be offered, with questions on all three modes prescribed for study in 2022 appearing on the examination paper. Candidates who choose to answer a question on a text in Section I, as usual, may not refer to the same text should they choose to answer a question in Section II. SECTION III – Poetry, Part A, Unseen Poetry and Part B, Prescribed Poetry (70 marks) There will be an additional choice in Part B, with questions on five of the poets prescribed for study in 2022 rather than on four poets as was the norm. N.B. Candidates are NOT required to answer on Shakespearean Drama, although of course, they may choose to do so. |
| English (OL) | Paper 1 Paper 1 in 2022 will be marked out of a total of 140 marks, instead of 200 marks. Section I – Comprehending (40 marks) Two Questions, A and B, follow each text. Candidates must answer ONE question in Section I: either one Question A OR one Question B on ONE text. All of the questions in Section I will be marked out of 40 marks in 2022, instead of the usual 50 marks allocated to each question. Section II – Composing (100 marks) Candidates must write on one of the compositions 1 – 7. Both sections of this paper (COMPREHENDING and COMPOSING) must be attempted. Paper 2 SECTION I – The Single Text (70 marks) Candidates who opt to answer Section I, will have a greater choice of questions than in a normal year. This will be achieved by combining the usually compulsory questions – Question 1 and Question 2 – into one three-part question, two parts marked out of 10 marks, with the third part marked out of 15 marks. The questions usually labelled Parts (i), (ii) and (iii) of Question 3 will appear as three individual 35 mark questions. This means that in 2022, candidates will be presented with a choice of four questions in this section. Candidates will answer one of the two questions set on the particular single text that they have studied. SECTION II – The Comparative Study (70 marks) A wider choice of modes will be offered, with questions on all three modes prescribed for study in 2022 appearing on the examination paper. The internal choice within each mode will remain the same. Candidates who choose to answer a question on a text in Section I, as usual, may not refer to the same text should they choose to answer a question in Section II. SECTION III – Poetry, Part A, Unseen Poetry and Part B, Prescribed Poetry (70 marks) There will be an additional choice in Part B, with questions on five of the poets prescribed for study in 2022 rather than on four poets as was the norm. One of the two extra poems will be drawn from the poetry common with the HL course. The second poem added to the examination paper will be from the list of poems prescribed for study at the Ordinary Level only. |
| French | The total mark allocation for the written paper, excluding the aural component, will be 130 marks, instead of the usual 220 marks. There will be no change to the Listening Comprehension test in 2022. HL: Section A – Reading Comprehension (Compréhension Écrite) Candidates will be required to answer questions on only ONE question, either Reading Comprehension 1 or Reading Comprehension 2. This question will be marked out of 60 marks. Section B – Written Production (Production Écrite) Candidates will be required to answer TWO questions: Question 1 (a or b or c) and ONE of Questions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Question 1 will be marked out of 40 marks and questions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 will be marked out of 30 marks. OL: Section A – Reading Comprehension (Compréhension Écrite) Candidates will be required to answer questions on TWO questions: Reading Comprehension question 1 or 2 AND answer Reading Comprehension question 3 or 4. Each Reading Comprehension will be marked out of 40 marks. Section B – Written Production (Production Écrite) Candidates will be required to answer TWO questions from questions 1(a), 1(b), 2(a), 2(b), 3(a) and 3(b). Question 1(b) – Form – candidates will answer parts one to five and three of the four remaining parts. Questions 2(a), 2(b) 3(a) and 3(b) internal choice will be introduced – Candidates will respond to three of the five points in the question(s) they choose. Each question will be marked out of 30 marks. |
| Geography | The total mark allocation for the paper is 320 marks, instead of the usual 400 marks. HL: Part One: Short-Answer Questions (80 marks) There are 12 questions and candidates are required to answer 10 questions. Part Two: Structured and Essay questions (240 marks) Candidates must attempt THREE questions. They are not allowed to choose all three questions from the same section. They may choose two questions from the same section if they wish. Section 1: Patterns and Processes in the Physical Environment (Questions 1-3) Section 2: Regional Geography (Questions 4-6) Section 3: Electives (Questions 7-12) Section 4: Options (Questions 13-24) All questions will carry 80 marks each. OL: Part One: Short-Answer Questions (100 marks) There are 12 questions and candidates are required to answer 10 questions. Part Two: Structured questions (200 marks) Candidates must attempt TWO questions. Each question must be from a different section. Section 1: Patterns and Processes in the Physical Environment (Questions 1-3) Section 2: Regional Geography (Questions 4-6) Section 3: Electives (Questions 7-12) All questions will carry 100 marks each. |
| German | HL: In 2022, the written paper will be marked out of a total of 135 marks, instead of the 220 mark total in place in a normal year. Candidates will answer Text I (Reading Comprehension 1) AND Angewandte Grammatik (Applied Grammar) (Question 1 or Question 2). OR Candidates will answer Text II (Reading Comprehension 2) AND Äußerung zum Thema (short written piece) (Option (a) or (b)). AND All candidates will be required to answer either option (a) or (b) in the Schriftliche Produktion (Written Production) section. In the Schriftliche Produktion (Written Production) section: Option (a): candidates will be offered five topic areas – to answer four. Option (b): candidates will be offered six bullet points – to answer five. OL: In 2022 the written paper will be marked out of a total of 145 marks, instead of the 220 mark total in place in a normal year. Candidates will answer Text I (Reading Comprehension 1) AND Angewandte Grammatik (Applied Grammar) (Question 1 or Question 2). OR Candidates will answer Text II (Reading Comprehension 2) AND Äußerung zum Thema (short written piece) (Option (a) or (b)). AND All candidates will be required to answer either option (a) or (b) in the Schriftliche Produktion (Written Production) section. In the Schriftliche Produktion (Written Production) section: Option (a): candidates will be offered six points (excluding the closing sentence), candidates to answer five. Candidates to complete the letter with a suitable closing sentence. Option (b): candidates will write three sentences on two of the pictures and two sentences on three of the pictures [Pictures 2-6]. Candidates will be free to choose the pictures on which they will write the two or three sentences. |
| Hebrew Studies (HL & OL) | The total marks for the examination papers will be reduced at both levels from 400 to 225 marks for 2022. In 2022, instead of answering one of two questions on all four of the sections (A, B, C and D), candidates will be required to answer one of two questions from any three of the four sections in these papers (A or B or C or D). Usually, candidates are required to answer all of the three parts within each question. In 2022, candidates will be required to answer either part a or b and part c, of the questions chosen from three of the four sections. Each section carries 75 marks. |
| History | The total mark allocation for the paper is 300 marks, instead of the usual 400 marks. HL: Section 1: (100 Marks) Candidates should answer Section 1 (the Documents Based Question) as normal. Sections 2 and 3: (200 Marks) Instead of writing three essays, the candidates are required to write two essays. The essay questions should be chosen from two different topics from the eleven topics in Section 2 (Ireland) and Section 3 (Europe and the wider world). OL: Section 1: (100 Marks) Candidates should answer Section 1 (the Documents Based Question) as normal. Sections 2 and 3:(200 Marks) Candidates are required to answer parts A, B and C from two topics of the eleven topics in Sections 2 (Ireland) and 3 (Europe and the wider world). Because of this further change, the extra “Part A” questions – which were to appear on page 15 of the 2022 examination paper – are no longer required and will therefore not appear on the 2022 paper. Note: A corresponding set of instructions will appear on the Early Modern paper in which Ireland: Topic 2 is specified for Section 1. |
| Home Economics- Scientific and Social (HL and OL) |
The total mark allocation for the 2022 examination paper will be 200 or 240 marks, instead of the usual 280 or 320 marks. Section A: (30 Marks) Candidates will be required to answer five questions out of fourteen. Each question will carry six marks. Section B: (130 Marks) Candidates will be required to answer Question 1 and one question from questions 2, 3, 4 and 5. Question 1 is worth 80 marks. Questions 2, 3, 4 and 5 are worth 50 marks each. Section C: (40 or 80 Marks) There will be an additional question (Question 4) which will examine the core areas of the syllabus. Candidates will be required to answer one elective question or question 4 (core) to include part (a) and part (b) or (c). Question 4 will have the same layout, format and choice as electives 1, 2 and 3 |
| Irish (HL) | There will be no change to Paper 1 in 2022. Paper II : Paper II in 2022 will carry 120 marks in total, instead of 200 marks. Question 1: Reading Comprehension (50 marks) Candidates will have the choice between Reading Comprehension A and Reading Comprehension B. Next, candidates must answer two literature questions from Question 2: 1 question from Prescribed or Optional Prose (30 marks) OR Question 3: 1 question from Prescribed or Optional Poetry (30 marks) AND Question 4: 1 question from Additional Literature (40 marks) In 2022, the total mark for the literature part of the paper will be changed from 100 marks to 70 marks. Candidates will have the choice between Question 2 (Prescribed or Optional Prose) and Question 3 (Prescribed or Optional Poetry). There will be additional internal choices on the examination paper. |
| Irish (OL) | There will be no change to Paper 1 in 2022. Paper II : Paper II in 2022 will carry 150 marks in total, instead of 200 marks. Question 1: Reading Comprehension (50 marks) Candidates will have the choice between Reading Comprehension A and Reading Comprehension B. Next, candidates must answer four literature questions from Question 2: 2 questions from Prescribed or Optional Prose (50 marks) AND Question 3: 2 questions from Prescribed or Optional Poetry (50 marks) There will be no change in the administration of marks in the various questions. Each literature question carries 25 marks. As candidates will only answer two literature questions, the total mark on the literature part of Paper II will change from 100 marks to 50 marks. |
| Irish (FL) | In 2022, this will carry 315 marks in total, instead of 360 marks. The Foundation Level Paper includes Listening Comprehension, Reading Comprehension and Written Expression. There will be no change to the Listening Comprehension and Reading Comprehension questions in 2022. Written Expression: There are two questions in this part of the examination paper: Question 4 and Question 5. In 2022, candidates will undertake one writing task from Question 4 OR Question 5 |
| Italian | HL: The total mark allocation for the written paper, excluding the aural component, will be 160 marks, instead of the usual 220 marks. Candidates may choose to answer either Section A – Journalistic passage OR Section B – Literary section, instead of having to do both. Each section will have a mark allocation of 60 marks. Section C remains as per the initial adjustments. OL: The total mark allocation for the written paper, excluding the aural component, will be 180 marks, instead of the usual 220 marks. In Section A, candidates will have to answer Question 1 OR Question 2. There will be no change to Section B. Section C remains as per the initial adjustments. |
| Japanese | HL: The total mark allocation for the paper will be 170 marks, instead of the usual 220 marks. There are no changes in Question 1 and candidates are required to answer all question parts. In Question 2 candidates will answer all of Part A, 10 of 12 questions in Part B and 10 of 12 questions in Part C. In Question 3 candidates will answer all of Part A and Part B. Candidates will be required to answer 5 of 6 questions in Part C and 10 of 12 in Part D. In addition to the above previously announced amendments, candidates will be required to answer either Question 4 OR Question 5, with both questions now carrying an equal 50 marks. OL: The total mark allocation for the paper in 2022 will be 160 marks, instead of the usual 200 marks. There are no changes in Question 1 and candidates are required to answer all question parts. In Question 2 candidates will be required to answer all of Part A, 5 of 6 questions in Part B, 10 of 13 questions in Part C and all of Part D. In Question 3, Part A candidates will be required to answer questions 1-4, in part 5 they will answer 3 of 4 questions. In Question 3, Part B candidates will answer 10 of 12 questions. In addition to the above previously announced amendments, candidates will be required to answer either Question 4 OR Question 5 with both now carrying an equal 40 marks. |
| Latin (HL and OL) | The total mark allocation for both the OL and the HL in 2022 will be 300 marks, instead of the usual 400 marks. The reductions in prescribed material continue to apply in 2022. In Question 1, candidates will be required to answer Section A or Section B. The mark allocation for Q. 1 remains at 75 marks. In Question 2 candidates will be required to answer just one part from either Section A or Section B. The mark allocation for Q. 2 will therefore be 65 marks. In Question 3, the extracts are presented in Q. 3. A (i) and Q. 3. B (i) will be taken from the reduced prescribed material and the scope of questioning and answering in Q. 3. A (ii) and Q. 3. B (ii) will also be restricted to the reduced prescribed material. The mark allocation for Q. 3 remains at 90 marks. In Question 4 candidates will be required to answer any two of the three parts of this question. The mark allocation for Q. 4 will therefore be 20 marks. In Question 5 candidates will be required to answer any two of the six parts from Sections A and B. The mark allocation for Q. 5 will therefore be 50 marks. |
| Lithuanian | HL: The total mark allocation for the written paper, excluding the aural component, will be 130 marks, instead of the usual 180 marks. Section A: Reading Comprehensions (50 marks) Candidates will do either Reading Comprehension 1 or Reading Comprehension 2. Section B: Written production (80 marks) Candidates will be required to answer THREE questions: question 3, (a) or (b) or (c), question 4, (a) or (b) or (c) and question 5, (a) or (b) or (c). OL: The total mark allocation for the written paper, excluding the aural component, will be 140 marks, instead of the usual 180 marks. Section A: Reading Comprehensions (80 marks) Candidates will do either Reading Comprehension 1 OR Reading Comprehension 2. All candidates must answer Reading Comprehension 3. Section B: Written production (60 marks) Candidates will be required to answer TWO questions: questions 4, (a) or (b) or (c) and question 5, (a) or (b) or (c). |
| Mandarin Chinese | HL: The total mark allocation for the written paper, excluding the aural component, will be 135 marks, instead of the usual 160 marks. Section A: Reading Comprehensions (55 marks) Candidates will do either Question 1 or Question 2 and candidates will do both Questions 3 and 4. Section B: Written production (80 marks) Candidates will be required to answer TWO questions: question 5, (a) or (b) or (c) and question 6, (a) or (b) or (c). OL: The total mark allocation for the written paper, excluding the aural component, will be 134 marks, instead of the usual 160 marks. Section A: Reading Comprehensions (74 marks) Candidates will do Question 1 AND Question 4. . Candidates will answer either Question 2 OR Question 3. Section B: Written production (60 marks) Candidates will be required to answer TWO questions: Internal choice will be increased in each question. |
| Mathematics (HL and OL) | The total mark allocation for each examination paper will be 220 marks, instead of the usual 300 marks. Both Paper 1 and Paper 2 at both levels usually contain two sections and candidates are required to answer all of the questions in each section. Section A: Concepts and Skills (120 marks) Candidates will be required to answer any four of the 6 questions. Section B: Contexts and Applications (100 marks ) Candidates will be required to answer any two of the 4 questions. |
| Mathematics (FL) | The total mark allocation for the examination paper in 2022 will be 230 marks, instead of the usual 300 marks. Section A: (180 marks) Candidates will be required to answer any six of the 8 questions. Section B: (50 marks) Candidates will be required to answer any one of the 3 questions. |
| Music | HL: Paper 1- Composing The total mark allocation for the examination paper will be 50 marks instead of the usual 100 marks. Candidates will be required to answer one question only from Section A – Melody Composition (40 marks) OR one question from Section B – Harmony (60 marks). Paper 2- Listening Reduction in content in set works: • Piano Concerto K.488 by Mozart: Questions will not be set in 3rd movement (Allegro assai) • Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz: Questions will not be set in 2nd movement (Un Bal). Extra choice in Irish music: • Question 5B: Candidates choose one out of five topics on which to respond OL: Paper 1- Composing The total mark allocation for the examination paper will be 50 marks instead of the usual 100 marks. Candidates will be required to answer one question only from Section A – Melody Composition (40 marks) OR one question from Section B – Harmony (60 marks). The opening phrase for continuation in questions 1-3 will start on the downbeat, i.e. melodies will not start on the upbeat. Paper 2- Listening There will be a reduction in the content in the set works as follows: • Piano Concerto K.488 by Mozart: Questions will not be set on 3rd movement (Allegro assai) • Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz: Questions will not be set on 2nd movement (Un Bal). |
| Physics and Chemistry (HL and OL) | The total mark allocation for the 2022 examination paper will be 330 marks, instead of the usual 400 marks; all questions carry equal marks (66). Section I has six Physics questions and Section II has six Chemistry questions. Candidates quill have to answer 5 questions: any two questions from Section I and any two questions from Section II and one other question from either Section I or Section II. |
| Physical Education (HL and OL) | The total mark allocation for the examination in 2022 is 170 marks, and not 250 marks as applied previously. Section A: Short Answer Questions (40 marks) Candidates will be required to answer any five of the twelve questions in Section A. Section B: Case Study (50 marks) There is no adjustment to Section B – Case Study and this Section is compulsory. Section C: Long Questions (80 marks) Candidates will be required to answer any two of the five questions. |
| Physics (HL and OL) | The total mark allocation for the examination papers in 2022 will be 304 marks, instead of the usual 400 marks. Section A (80 marks) Candidates will be required to answer two questions from five. Section B (224 marks) Candidates will be required to answer four questions from nine. The first question in Section B will require candidates to answer eight out of twelve short questions. |
| Polish | HL: The total mark allocation for the written paper, excluding the aural component, will be 130 marks, instead of the usual 180 marks. Section A – Reading Comprehension (50 marks) Candidates will do either Reading Comprehension 1 or Reading Comprehension 2. Section B – Written Production (80 marks) Candidates will be required to answer THREE questions: question 3, (a) or (b) or (c), question 4, (a) or (b) or (c) and question 5, (a) or (b) or (c). OL: The total mark allocation for the written paper, excluding the aural component, will be 140 marks, instead of the usual 180 marks. Section A – Reading Comprehension (80 marks) Candidates will do either Reading Comprehension 1 or Reading Comprehension 2. All candidates must answer Reading Comprehension 3. Section B – Written Production (60 marks) Candidates will be required to answer TWO questions: questions 4, (a) or (b) or (c) and question 5, (a) or (b) or (c). |
| Politics and Society | HL: The total mark allocation for the examination paper in 2022 is 300 marks instead of the usual 400 marks. Section A – Short answer questions (50 marks) Candidates will answer ten out of 15 questions. Section B – Data-based Questions (150 marks) Candidates will answer all questions. Section C – Discursive Essay Questions (100 marks) Candidates will answer one question out of five. OL: The total mark allocation for the examination paper in 2022 is 350 marks instead of the usual 400 marks. Section A – Short answer questions (100 marks) Candidates will answer 10 out of 20 questions. Section B – Data-based Questions (150 marks) Candidates will answer all questions. Section C – Discursive Essay Questions (100 marks) Candidates will answer 2 questions out of 3. |
| Portuguese | HL: The total mark allocation for the written paper, excluding the aural component, will be 130 marks, instead of the usual 180 marks. Section A – Reading Comprehension (50 marks) Candidates will answer ONE question, either Reading Comprehension 1 OR Reading Comprehension 2. Section B – Written Production (80 marks) Candidates will answer THREE questions – Question 3 (a) or (b) or (c), Questions 4 (a) or (b) or (c) AND Question 5 (a) or (b) or ©. OL: The total mark allocation for the written paper, excluding the aural component, will be 140 marks, instead of the usual 180 marks. Section A – Reading Comprehension (80 marks) Candidates will do either Reading Comprehension 1 OR Reading Comprehension 2. All candidates must answer Reading Comprehension 3. Section B – Written Production (60 marks) Candidates will answer TWO questions: Question 4 (a) or (b) or (c) AND Question 5 (a) or (b) or (c) |
| Religious Education (Hl and OL) | The total mark allocation for the examination in 2022 is 240 marks, not 320 marks as in a normal year. Unit 1(80 marks) Candidates will be required to answer parts a) and b) from one of the three questions. Unit 2 (80 marks) Candidates will be required to answer parts: a), b), c) from one of the three sections. Unit 3 (80 marks) Candidates will be required to answer either part a) or part b) from one of the four sections. |
| Russian | HL: The total mark allocation for the examination paper will be 170 marks instead of the usual 220 marks. Section 1 (70 marks) Candidates will choose between the language and/or cultural awareness questions at the end of the two comprehensions in Section I. Candidates will now only be required to answer one of the two comprehension questions i.e. Question 1 – Comprehension or Question 2 – Comprehension. Section 2 (70 marks) Candidates are required to answer Question 3 – Guided Writing and candidates will have an increased choice between either two letters or two narratives or two discussions of which only one must be attempted. OL: The total mark allocation for the examination paper will be 175 marks instead of the usual 220 marks. Section 1 (130 marks) Candidates will now only be required to answer one of the two information retrieval exercises i.e. Section I (A) Question 1 Information Retrieval or Question 2 Information Retrieval. Section 2 (45 marks) Candidates are required to answer both Part A – Short Answers and Part B – Extended Writing and candidates will attempt only one Short Answer (Cultural Awareness) exercise and the prompts for the Extended Writing will be suggested rather than compulsory |
| Spanish | HL: The Higher Level Spanish Written paper in 2022 will be marked out of a total of 185 marks, instead of the 220 mark. Section A (60 marks) Question 1 (a) Prescribed Literature or (b) Journalistic text will remain unchanged in 2022. Question 2, instead of answering both parts (a) and (b) as is usually required, this year, candidates will be required to answer only ONE part. Section B (100 marks) Remain unchanged. Section C (25 marks) Candidates will be required in 2022 to answer any ONE question from the entire Section, that is, either Dialogue OR Formal Letter OR Diary Entry OR Note. OL: Ordinary Level Spanish Written paper in 2022 will be marked out of a total of 170 marks, instead of the 220 mark. Section A (110 marks) Candidates will be required to answer Question 1 AND Question 5 and ONE of either Questions 2, 3, or 4. Question 1 will be marked in 2022 out of 45 marks, Question 5 will be marked out of 40 marks, and Questions 2, 3 and 4 will be marked out of 25 marks each. Section B (60 marks) Remain unchanged. |
| Technology | The total mark allocation for the examination paper in 2022 will be 136 marks instead of the 200 mark. HL: Section A: Core short-answer questions (72 marks) Candidates will be required to answer 12 of the 15 questions. All questions carry 6 marks. Section B: Core (24 marks) Candidates will be required to answer any one of the two questions. Both questions carry 24 marks. Section C: Options (40 marks) Candidates will be required to answer any one of the five questions. All questions carry 40 marks. OL: Section A: Core short-answer questions (72 marks) Candidates will be required to answer 9 of the 12 questions. All questions carry 8 marks. Section B: Core (24 marks) Candidates will be required to answer any one of the two questions. Both questions carry 24 marks. Section C: Options (40 marks) Candidates will be required to answer any one of the five questions. All questions carry 40 marks. |
| Non-Curricular EU Languages | These adjustments apply to: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, Hungarian, Latvian, Maltese, Modern Greek, Romanian, Slovakian, Slovenian, Swedish. The TOTAL marks for the examination in 2022 will be 70. (PART ONE will be marked out of 30 and PART TWO out of 40.) HL: The traditional PART TWO will be omitted and there will be two PARTS only. The new PART ONE will retain the same format as PART ONE of a normal year and will require candidates to answer six questions based on a given text. The new PART TWO will be in the same format as PART THREE of a normal year and will require candidates to write an essay on a topic chosen from two options. |
LCVP Link Modules Adjustments
The total mark allocation for the examination paper will be 130 marks, instead of the usual 160 marks.
Section A– Audio Visual (30 marks)
Candidates will be required to answer all 8 questions.
Section B – Case Study And Section C- General Study (100 marks)
Candidates will be required to answer a total of four questions across the two sections. Therefore, candidates may choose to answer Section B – Case Study and any three questions from Section C – General Questions or they may choose four questions from Section C – General Questions.
Conclusion
I would advise that all Leaving Cert candidates familiarize themselves with the 2022 LC timetable and all the latest adjustments. I also believe that the best guide to prepare and practice for these extensive changes is completing the 2021 Leaving Cert exam papers, which are available on the SEC website under its examination material archive. So, create an appropriate Leaving Cert study plan and prepare for the exams accordingly.
Good luck!
